Things looking up for Lautenberg

The race against Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-N.J.) marks the latest GOP Senate recruiting misstep, as the decision by a high-regarded potential candidate to skip the race leaves Republicans with only a slim chance to pick up a potentially winnable seat.

Biotechnology executive John Crowley, who was preparing as late as Saturday to enter the race, decided not to run because he was unable to quickly make the transition into a statewide campaign while still serving as president and CEO of his company.

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Crowley was viewed as a particularly strong opponent for Lautenberg because of his compelling biography and ability to fund his own campaign. He had left his job as a senior executive at Bristol Myers to start his own biomedical company in the search for medical treatment for two of his children who have a rare neuromuscular disorder.

He sold his start-up company in 2001 for more than $130 million, and the new company developed a treatment for the disease.

Crowley had been courted to run by prominent Republicans, including the party’s de facto presidential nominee, Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), and the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Sen. John Ensign (Nev.). Also, former GOP presidential candidates Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney called Crowley in just the past week.

But political adviser and close friend Bill Spadea said Crowley had other priorities: “It came down to two things: He still needs to devote as much of as his time as possible to see his kids through their treatment — this is what drives John Crowley — and separating from a public company in that condensed amount of time was proving to be challenging.”

Crowley’s decision not to run is another blow to the NRSC, which has had its share of recruiting shortfalls over the past month. The party has failed to recruit credible candidates against Sens. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) and Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and don’t have anyone running against Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.).

Crowley’s exit leaves three Republicans, each with serious weaknesses, remaining in the field.

One candidate recruited by New Jersey GOP officials, former Goya Foods executive Andrew Unanue, has seen his campaign fall apart since announcing his candidacy. He made his campaign announcement while on a ski vacation in Vail, Colo., on Easter Sunday — and was expected to return to New Jersey by Tuesday.

Subsequent news reports showed he doesn’t live in New Jersey and revived allegations from a civil lawsuit that he had allegedly arrived drunk on the job at times.

Unanue told The Philadelphia Inquirer last week that he frequently attended evening events with customers, clients and suppliers. “Did we have some drinks? Absolutely. Did I sometimes go to work with a headache? Absolutely,” he said. “Did it ever affect my job? Absolutely not.” Unanue told the newspaper that sales and revenue increased during his time at Goya.

He had appeared to be considering dropping his campaign, but after Crowley decided not to run, Unanue filed his candidacy papers Monday.

Unanue has won a handful of key Republican county endorsements statewide, despite not campaigning in person and instead calling party leaders on conference calls from Colorado.

“It was the shortest honeymoon I’ve ever seen in politics,” said Brigid Harrison, professor of political science at Montclair State University. “Somebody clearly didn’t do their vetting at the Republican state committee.”

Another candidate, state Sen. Joseph Pennacchio, is unlikely to receive enough financial support to seriously compete. The third GOP hopeful is Murray Sabrin, a college professor and state chairman of Texas Rep. Ron Paul’s presidential campaign.

The Republican recruiting woes would appear to be good news for Lautenberg, but he now has his own primary challenge ahead of him.

Despite the support of New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine (D), Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J) and most of the party’s congressional delegation, Lautenberg found himself facing a late primary challenge from Rep. Robert Andrews (D-N.J.).